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BASE ACCOUNTABILITY ON FACTS, NOT POLITICAL NOISE—ROMUALDEZ By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz FORMER House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez yesterday said the
search for accountability is about facts and evidence—not just political noise or speculation. This was his message after submitting his affidavit to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)
and voluntarily answering commissioners’ questions concerning his role in the budget process. “I thanked the ICI for giving me the opportunity to share my side. For now,
AT THE ICI. Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez speaks to reporters after his appearance at the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in Taguig City on October 14, 2025. ABS-CBN News / Screengrab
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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 242 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
Remulla lifts SALN restrictions Circular opens to public access SALNs filed from 20 years ago By Rio N. Araja and Pot Chavez
O
MBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday scrapped restrictions on public access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials. The memorandum circular signed by Remulla covers the President, Vice President, the heads of Constitutional Offices, and local government officials, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said. It effectively reversed the 2020 memorandum of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires that previously restricted access to SALNs by requiring the consent of the public official for disclosure. ““This decision is guided by a simple principle: The public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth. Transparency in this area is not a slogan – it is a safeguard against corruption and a deterrent to abuse of power. As the Ombudsman has emphasized, transparency is the Next page
DOJ hands flood control findings to Ombudsman
WATER FOR FARMS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (inset), led
the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Project, top photo, in Claveria, Cagayan, which would irrigate 1,050 hectares of farm land. It also serves as protection from floods and supports more than 1,000 farmers all year round. PCO
Marcos inaugurates new water impounding project in Cagayan By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Dam and irrigation project in Claveria, Cagayan as a model of effective and transparent infrastructure, contrasting it with growing concerns over
alleged “ghost” flood control works and farm-tomarket roads in other regions. Speaking at the opening event, the President said the project, developed through the collaboration of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), demonstrated that the government
By Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes
can deliver reliable infrastructure when planning, design and implementation are done properly. The President also vowed to eliminate “palakasan” or political favoritism in the allocation of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, stressing that infrastructure for agriculture will no longer
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman its findings on the alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan. In a press briefing yesterday, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon disclosed that the five cases submitted were the result of a preliminary investigation involving several district office officials and contractors.
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OCTA: Most Pinoys back PBBM’s exposé on flood control mess By Katrina Manubay A MAJORITY (83%) of Filipino adults support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to publicly expose corruption in government flood control projects, even if it could have political repercussions, according to the latest survey by the OCTA Research Group.
The Tugon ng Masa survey found that support for the President’s stance is strongest in the National Capital Region (91%), followed by Balance Luzon (90%). Agreement is lower in the Visayas (64%) and Mindanao (78%), where ambivalence is more pronounced, at 24% and 16%, respectively. Next page
A MOTHER’S LEGACY. In celebration of Founder’s Day, the St. Michael’s College of Laguna (SMCL) community led by Director Anthony L. Almeda, right photo, held the groundbreaking ceremony of the three-story Beatriz Limaco Almeda (BLA) Hall. The new BLA Hall, left photo, will rise on a 480-square-meter property adjacent to the St. Therese Food Court and will serve as the new home for SMCL’s PreSchool and Primary School classes. This landmark project not only underscores SMCL’s commitment to providing a nurturing and dynamic learning environment but also strengthens the institution’s legacy of excellence in basic education.
ICC disqualifies chief prosecutor Khan By Pot Chavez THE International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals judges disqualified chief prosecutor Karim Khan from the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. According to reports, Khan was
excluded from the crimes against humanity charges against Duterte citing a possible conflict of interest. As such, he is barred from taking part in the prosecution of Duterte which is the only major active case pending before the international court. In August, the defense requested
to disqualify the chief prosecutor because of an “irreconcilable conflict of interest arising out of his former representation of victims of an alleged policy of extra-judicial drug-related killings in the country. “A fair and informed observer Next page
Navy eyes Chinese underwater structures in Scarborough shoal By Rex Espiritu and Katrina Manubay THE Philippine Navy is investigating the reported underwater structure in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, a highranking Navy official said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG) has sighted, for the first time, a yellow floating buoy positioned at the center of Bajo de Masinloc, during a maritime domain awareness patrol on Monday, Oct. 13, according to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela. Next page